Find out how popular the last name Sandberg is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Sandberg.

Sandberg, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Sandberg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sandberg in America

Sandberg is the 4210th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sandberg surname appeared 8,416 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Sandberg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sandberg to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Sandberg

The surname Sandberg is of Scandinavian origin, specifically from Sweden and Norway. It is derived from the Old Norse words "sandr" meaning "sand" and "berg" meaning "mountain" or "hill." This suggests that the name originated in areas with sandy mountains or hills.

The earliest known record of the Sandberg surname dates back to the 13th century in Sweden. In 1286, a document from the town of Skara mentioned a man named Petrus Sandberg. This is one of the earliest documented instances of the name.

During the Middle Ages, the Sandberg name was particularly prevalent in the Swedish regions of Värmland, Dalsland, and Västergötland, which are known for their sandy hills and mountains. The name may have been initially used as a descriptive term for someone living near such geographical features.

In Norway, the Sandberg name can be traced back to the 15th century. One of the earliest known bearers was Olav Sandberg, who was mentioned in a Norwegian tax record from 1467.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the Sandberg surname. One of the earliest was Johannes Sandberg (1482-1548), a Swedish clergyman who served as the Archbishop of Uppsala from 1526 to 1548.

Another prominent figure was Carl Gustaf Sandberg (1758-1838), a Swedish botanist and explorer who conducted extensive research on the flora of South Africa. He was born in Örebro, Sweden, and is known for his contributions to the classification of plant species.

In the 19th century, Johan August Sandberg (1832-1915) was a Swedish engineer and industrialist. He founded the Sandviken Ironworks, which became a major steel producer in Sweden.

One of the most famous bearers of the Sandberg name was the Norwegian playwright and novelist Johan Nordahl Brun Sandberg (1862-1924). His works, such as the play "The People of the Marshes," explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of rural communities.

Another notable individual was Gertrude Sandberg (1890-1989), a Swedish-American actress and singer who had a successful career on Broadway and in Hollywood films during the early 20th century.

While the Sandberg surname has its roots in Scandinavia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the sandy hills and mountains of Sweden and Norway, reflecting the geographical features that likely inspired its creation centuries ago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sandberg

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Sandberg.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Sandberg was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Sandberg has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Sandberg was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sandberg, please contact us.

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